Shelby American is known for many things but not for the production versions of its experimental cars. Well, that has changed with the Shelby GT500 Code Red, which will become the automaker’s first twin-turbo limited edition car.
As the name implies, it is one of the prototypes the company produced for the Shelby GT500, but it couldn’t make it to production for various reasons (known to the company). The Code Red now gets a more powerful 5.2-liter V8 updated with high-performance parts, a first-class intercooled twin-turbo system, a new fuel system, an engine management system, and other components.
The result is a GT500 that can produce more than 1,000 horsepower (746 kilowatts) and 780 pound-feet (1,058 Newton-meters) of torque while consuming 93 octane fuel. Fill the tank with E85 Ethanol, and the engine pumps out up to 1,300-hp (969 kW) and 1,000 lb-ft (1,356 Nm) of torque. That’s more than even the most powerful supercars can put out!
The powertrain isn’t the only thing company has changed. They also adorned it with a widebody kit, a new set of wheels, tires, axles, updated suspension, interior, emblems, carbon fibre hood, and so on.
If you are someone familiar with the company’s history, you might know it isn’t the first experimental GT500 Code Red. The automaker actually produced a prototype in 2008 in association with Nelson’s Racing Engines that re-designed the twin-turbo 5.4-litre V8. Nevertheless, that prototype couldn’t find its way to the production lines owing to its steep cost and highly thrilling nature.
The company says, “many of the issues we encountered 14 years ago no longer exist.” That means all the hurdles are removed, and the time is suitable for this kind of production.
Apart from the 2008 GT500 Code Red, Shelby also produced three more experimental cars in its 60 years of existence. These include the 1968 Green Hornet, the 1967 Super Snake, and the 1967 Little Red, which were obviously for experimentation, so couldn’t go for production.
Regarding the Code Red, the company plans to build 10 units each for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 model years of GT500. The pricing will be high, starting at $209,995 (excluding the cost of the stock car). Those who love to own limited edition cars with the potential to become classic should not miss out on this.
With the purchase, the buyer will get a membership in Team Shelby, which is the global club Carroll Shelby created in 2008. The car and its owner will also get an entry in the official Shelby Registry.
Source and Images: Motor1